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Stop invading my mind, freakish Dom wizard.
"I think the horror of it was so off the charts, there was no response big enough to cover it. So she went the opposite direction. She blinked three times and said in this measured, precise way: 'you missed my blueberry muffin.' Then she smiled. That's when I thought, 'Damn, she and I are going to be awesome friends.'"
And they had been. Madison had first called her about her theater plans eight months ago, while Julie was still in New York. During the six months before Julie accepted her offer to be her managing director, she'd walked Madison through all the steps of being a production manager. Madison had met the challenge and exceeded all expectations.
In hindsight, i
t hadn't really surprised Julie. Madison had been a finance wizard in Boston before she came to North Carolina to take over her sister's erotic boutique, Naughty Bits. She'd made the shop hers, profiting enough that she'd decided to diversify into erotic theater. She'd also fallen in love with Logan, who was the hardware store owner next door, an astute businessman in his own right, and one with deep and vital ties in the BDSM community.
Madison had handled the capitalization of the first show, an astronomical accomplishment. She'd had an initial fundraising event at a rental space in downtown Matthews that targeted BDSM lifestylers specifically, rousing their interest. As such, when Julie arrived, Madison had a volunteer list of performers and stage hands from their ranks. Lucrative donors from the BDSM community had become the angels that brought Wonder to life. Their generous checks were a confidence vote in Madison and Logan's ability to turn the theater into something that would educate audiences on what BDSM was and wasn't, while offering a satisfying and entertaining view of that dynamic.
Julie was used to having to handle the production manager end of things, in addition to a bunch of other hats, including managing director, so it was refreshing not to have to dedicate so much of her energy to fundraising. For once, she could focus on the fun part, the theater and show development, except when Madison needed her guidance on the producer's end.
Julie returned her attention to the story she'd just told of their fated meeting. Logan curled a loose lock of Madison's long hair behind her ear, leaving his fingers there to caress her neck. "She didn't tell me all that."
"You notice so much when you look at people, Julie," Madison said quietly. "You have a gift that way."
Julie shook a finger at her. "No mushy maudlin stuff. We're drinking, so we're already in the danger zone. Next thing you know we'll be crying and watching Beaches together."
"I can hold my liquor," Logan informed her.
"You'll be singing 'Baby Mine' and sobbing. I guarantee it. Anyway, to finish up the story," she said over their chuckles, "the staff brought us towels to clean up, and a bucket so we could turn the computer over and let it drain in the hopes it could be dried out and salvaged. She very politely asked if I would buy her another cup of coffee. As I was apologizing, I told her this was just the type of spastic behavior Loser Boyfriend Number Three had hated about me. She said she was up to Loser Boyfriend Number Five and, since she could tell she was younger than me, I was behind. I called her a bitch, she laughed, and that was that. We spent an hour talking about how many relationships we'd screwed up, splurged on a chocolate muffin we split, and we've been friends ever since."
"It was worth the ruined computer. Though maybe not the ruined suit. I loved that outfit." This time Madison was able to poke Julie's knee with her toe since Logan had her on the upswing. Julie swatted at her bare sole with tickling fingers.
"Yeah, but you get to wear even cooler stuff at Naughty Bits." Madison still wore today's choice, a lavender gauze tunic with a lace black camisole beneath, over form-fitting leggings. She'd found an artistic side to balance her considerable business acumen. It was a good look for her.
"Our friendship gave me the chance to see what I'm seeing now," Julie told her. "You've gone from the unhappy but amazing person I met that day, to this obviously happy woman actualizing herself in so many ways." Julie spread out her hands as Madison flushed. "You have this incredible store, you're starting a theater, you're married to a great guy... You won. You give me hope that the Loser trail can lead to this."
As Madison's gaze softened again, Julie told herself to stop drinking. She steered them out of dangerous Beaches water by giving Logan a lecherous look. "You know, a little Internet research is a dangerous thing. I've been looking at the polyamory sites. Any chance you're into that?"
"No, he's not," Madison said decisively.
Logan laughed. "If the two of you want to have a girl-girl scene to change my mind, I'll give it fair consideration before I say no."
Julie's phone started to ring. "Let's put a pin in that," she said with a snort. She didn't recognize the number, but considering all the contractors, crew and cast communications she was juggling right now, she wasn't going to ignore it. "Hello?"
"Do you like orchids?"
"It depends. Who is this?" But she already knew, because that little tingle went up her spine at his voice. Logan and Madison were doing the intimate newlywed bubble, complete with brushing lips, murmured words and light touches, so Julie rose and moved to the rail.
"Why would who's on the phone change whether or not you like orchids?" he asked.
"It's irrelevant to my like or dislike of flowers. It's what strings are attached to a yes or no answer."
He chuckled. "Cynical. Hey, Julie. This is Des. I assume you know that, though."
"I can neither confirm nor deny. If I confirm, it suggests you made enough of an impression on me that I recognized your voice."
"And if you deny?"
"I only had a clever retort for Option A. For 'deny', I've got nothing."
"Let's focus on confirming then. Come with me to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden tomorrow morning. I like walking through the orchid garden in the Conservatory. We can do that, hang out, get a snack at their cafe. I'd have you back to your theater by noon. Harris said you work there 24/7, so I figure morning's as good as any other time."
"I have an internal leak. I'll have to plug that."
"Go easy on him. I overcame his resistance with carrot sticks."
